With the Cooper Tires British Formula Three International Series once more joining with the FIA European F3 Championship for this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps it was the British runners who stole the show in qualifying, locking out the front for both grids set by qualifying times.
Beating all comers Fortec Motorsport driver Felix Serralles took a surprising double pole, setting the best time (2:15.157) of the half hour session in the early going, ending the session just 0.041 seconds faster than British series rival and Carlin driver Carlos Sainz Jr.
For the Puerto Rican it was the second and third pole of the season, following on from his time topping effort at Monza back in April.
“It's been a long time since Monza, now finally a double pole,” he said. “I love this track, it's all about having big balls and carrying a lot of speed and that's what I like to do with the F3 car. I'm pleased I was able to put it all together.”
Sainz Jr, who has slipped to fifth in the points' standings after recent disappointing showings for the Red Bull backed driver will start from second for both the first and third races of the weekend – the second race of the weekend, on Friday afternoon of the Total 24 Hours of Spa weekend – with Alex Lynn starting third for the opening race of the weekend thanks to his second fastest time.
The Formula Renault graduate set the fourth best time overall, joining Daniel Juncadella – the best of European Championship runners – on the second row for the final race of the weekend.
Prema Powerteam driver Juncadella will start the opening race from fourth on the grid, the only non-British series entrant in the top ten for the opening race as Johannes van Asseldonk, Jazeman Jaafar, Pietro Fantin, Harry Tincknell and championship leader Jack Harvey completed the top ten alongside Prema Powerteam's American Michael Lewis, who will start eighth for race one and eleventh for the F3 finale on Saturday morning.
In the National Class of the British championship Adderly Fong set the benchmark for CF Racing, the experienced Chinese driver 0.140 seconds than T-Sport man Spike Goddard who currently leads the class points.